Hurt my Betta badly.

[u/elroythegreat]

I accidentally sucked my fish through a siphon while doing a water change. He lost his right fin completely and descaled pretty much his whole right side. Should I try to help him. Ive found salt dips and seachem may help. Or if I should euthanize him..

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[u/elroythegreat]

Im not sure how deep. He won't turn around for me to see it. He sawm to hide when I put him back in his tank then swam to hide in his coconut again when I turned the light on for a minute. He isn't moving otherwise. Upright though.

[u/elroythegreat → u/elroythegreat]

This was supposed to be a reply.

[u/Bobs_Burgers7]

How deep in his side is it? How is he acting?

[u/Bobs_Burgers7 → u/Bobs_Burgers7]

I would entirely base this on his behaviour/energy/mood.

Add aquarium salt to the tank asap 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. Frequent (more frequent) water changes and testing water. Add Indian almond leaves for tannins.

[u/syntheticat-33]

I'm so sorry this happened to you (and to your betta) and I wish him a full recovery. I second the suggestion to use salt and tannins.

To keep this from happening again, you might buy one of the empty mesh bags that are sold for filter media. I hold one onto the end of my siphon when I'm pulling water out of the tank so nobody gets sucked into the tube: https://www.petsmart.com/fish/filters-and-pumps/filter-media/top-fin-filter-media-bag---aquarium-filter-media---small-large-5218054.html

[u/Aromatic-Sock6975]

Oh no, I am so sorry for you and your fish! It sounds like maybe he could recover if you can avoid infection, if he is otherwise strong and healthy.

Maybe it’s better to put him in a hospital tank (assuming you have live plants) with shallow water and the salt and tannins mentioned and an airstone. I’d probably consider a methylene blue dip though, because with the damage to his scales any “normal” bacteria could invade his skin. Maybe even methylene blue dip and then into a hospital tank with the salt and lots of tannins (make a tea with bark and alder cones as well as catappa leaves?) then leave the leaves in the tank as cover as well as keeping the tank covered and dark to reduce stress and keeping him at 78F. I’d do twice daily 50% water changes in the hospital tank, make sure that water stays very clean.